Ilford? Harman? What's What and Who's Who?

The bankruptcy and reorganization of the old Ilford Imaging company in 2004–2005 led to two outcomes, one happy and the other unfortunate.

The happy result was that buyers were found for the Ilford businesses. Liquidation was avoided, and most of the existing Ilford product lines were saved.

The less-than-happy result was that the Ilford brand is now shared between two newly-independent companies, leading to a fair amount of confusion at the start, and even more now that the two successor companies are competing directly and sharing similar "trade dress" inherited from the old Ilford Imaging.

So, as a TOP public service, and setting aside the arcane details of the company's reorganization, here's the scoop about who is selling what photographic products under the Ilford name today.

Ilford Imaging Switzerland, now wholly owned by Oji Paper of Japan, owns the Ilford factory in Marly, Switzerland, and holds general rights to the Ilford brand.  It manufactures and sells Ilfochrome (formerly Cibachrome) materials for making traditional color prints from transparencies, as well as a wide range of inkjet papers under the Ilford brand.

Harman Technology Limited, a company created by former Ilford managers, owns the Ilford factory in Mobberley, U.K., along with the right to trade as Ilford Photo and to market black-and-white silver halide products under the Ilford name.  Harman continues to manufacture Ilford black and white products, including Multigrade and Galerie black and white papers, in Mobberley.  Harman has recently also introduced its own line of inkjet baryta photo papers under the Harman Inkjet brand, using materials and technology drawn from its traditional photographic products.

Ilford Photo plant, Mobberley, U.K.

So, a recap for those scoring at home:

• Ilford, Switzerland (Japanese ownership), makes Ilfochrome (née Cibachrome) materials and Ilford inkjet papers;

• Harman, U.K., makes Ilford brand B&W materials and Harman inkjet papers.

If you want to buy a fiber-based inkjet paper with a look and feel similar to those of traditional Ilford black and white papers, and manufactured by the same company in the same factory, look for the Harman Inkjet brand.  (It was one of these, Harman Gloss FB AL, that we nominated as our Photo Product of the Year yesterday.) Inkjet papers sold under the Ilford and Ilford Galerie brands are made in Switzerland, and have no relationship to the Ilford black and white product line, or to the Harman inkjet papers.

____________________

Mike  (Thanks to the ghostwriter)

Comments

[Declan]

I started using Ilford product many years ago and have always been satisfied with the quality of their products. When the company went into receivership several years ago I made a firm commitment (to myself) to continue buying their products. I have worked for large corporations that have gone through mergers /acquisitions/reorganizations (domestic & international) and know how stressful it can be to the guy on the factory floor thats actually makes the QA decision - the guy on 3rd shift at 3:00 AM that ultimately decides if the box goes to market or goes to the trash can. Support the worker and you will support the quality of their product. This may sound like '60s Marxism but but its true.

[michael]

Thanks for the clarification.

I thought Harman came from the U.S. Harman that makes audio equipment, such as Harman/Kardon.

Just like there are two Ilfords, there are two Harmans.

[John Sartin]

I am glad to have this clarification so thanks. I am looking forward to trying the Harman gloss paper. As for the other Ilford, their smooth pearl lustre paper is still my paper of choice for general in studio printing. Happy New Year to all.

[Oren Grad]

Michael, Harman Technology Limited in the UK is named after Alfred Harman, who founded the original Ilford company in 1879. Harman International, the audio and electronics company in the US, is named after its founder, Sidney Harman.

[John Hicks]

So....who's on first?

Actually I'm looking forward to trying the Harman paper...which I guess inherits the history...or something like that.

Even though I'm not using the traditional materials any more (not by choice) I'm glad that _someone_ is at least making the effort.

Geez...it was such a short time ago shooting on 8x10 HP5 and printing on MG WT....everything I know is obsolete but seems to work in our digital world....sorta.

Happy New Year!

-jbh- the Luddite

[Tom]

I used the Ilford brand for film and paper when I was still working in the dark room. Now I've switched to digital but I still print everything on Ilford paper. (usually smooth heavyweight matte paper; Ilford Galerie)

[Steve Smith]

Ilford (Harman) have also recently bought the UK photographic paper company Kentmere to expand their business.

I went to Ilford's Mobberley factory about six months ago for a factory tour. Their commitment to traditional products together with a drive to find new business opportunities was impressive as was the scale of the operation.

One of the ways they are finding new business to be advantageous to traditional production is the recent introduction of baryta based fibre paper for inkjet use. This increases the amount of baryta paper they purchase which gets them a better discount.

Steve.

[david bennett]

Thanks Mike, for a very useful reference.

David

[RobinP]

Yes indeed, thanks for the clarifications. I thought I had a vague notion of the state of play here but was not aware that "Cibachrome" was still made and I'm another old audiophile who immediately thought of Harman Kardon when the new brand name started appearing on boxes.

Thinking about it the Swiss connection makes sense when remembering that Ciba is still a big name in the chemical industry.

I'm afraid Mobberley doesn't get much of my money as I prefer Kodak's CN400 to XP2 and am very happy with the results I get on the Swiss Galerie paper. I don't feel too unpatriotic about this as my brother lives near Marly!

Cheers, Robin

[Jack]

As usual, I'm confused. Harman Gloss FB AL is NOT for colour photos?

P.S. I would love to see a list of all the papers suitable for my (new) Epson R 1800. Does such a thing exist?

[Mike Johnston]

Jack,

"As usual, I'm confused. Harman Gloss FB AL is NOT for colour photos?"

Who gave you that notion? Not us. In fact it works fine for color.

"P.S. I would love to see a list of all the papers suitable for my (new) Epson R 1800. Does such a thing exist?"

No, because one of the joys of inkjet printers is that they'll print on pretty much anything you can run through 'em. I suppose there are some papers that are unsuited for your inkset and probably some papers that don't look very good, but coming up with such a definitive list would be something of a fool's errand.

Mike J.

[Marco]

Heh, thanks for the clarification. I always assumed Harman was just a re-branded Ilford (or v.v.). Seems it's a separate product.

[Marc Rochkind]

Also, just to clarify matters, let's not forget Ilford Harman (brother of Sidney, and brother-in-law of Alfred), who is better known as the founder of Hahnemühle.

No, actually, I made that up.

--Marc

[John]

It is good to know that Ilfochrome is still being made, but where in the USA can it be purchased?

[Carl Root]

Just ran a few sheets of Ilford Galerie Gold Fibre Silk through my Epson 2200. Very nice for both B&W and color, and at two dollars for a 13x19 sheet rather than four plus, it's the breakthrough that I've been waiting for.